This document provides information on how to report or summarize what someone has said by changing their direct speech into indirect speech. It explains that tense, pronouns, place and time words need to be backshifted or changed when converting direct to indirect speech. Reporting verbs like said, told, asked can introduce the indirect quote, sometimes followed by a that clause or other construction depending on the specific verb.

1. REPORT SPEECH
direct speech: 'I work in a bank,' said Daniel.
indirect speech: Daniel said that he worked in a bank.
WE USE TELL + SOMEONE ►WHEN WE MENTION THE PERSON WHO IS BEING SPOKEN TO.
WE USE SAY + TO + SOMEONE ►WHEN DON´T MENTION THE PERSON BEING SPOKEN TO.

2. • Present simple, present continuous and present perfect
• When we backshift, present simple changes to past simple, present continuous changes to past
continuous and present perfect changes to past perfect.
• 'I travel a lot in my job.'
• Jamila said that she travelled a lot in her job.
• 'The baby's sleeping!'
• He told me the baby was sleeping.
• 'I've hurt my leg.'
• She said she'd hurt her leg.

3. • Past simple and past continuous
• When we backshift, past simple usually changes to past perfect simple, and past continuous usually
changes to past perfect continuous.
• 'We lived in China for five years.'
• She told me they'd lived in China for five years.
• 'It was raining all day.'
• He told me it had been raining all day.

4. • Past perfect
• The past perfect doesn't change.
• 'I'd tried everything without success, but this new medicine is great.'
• He said he'd tried everything without success, but the new medicine was
great.

5. • No backshift
• If what the speaker has said is still true or relevant, it's not always necessary to change the tense. This
might happen when the speaker has used a present tense.
• 'I go to the gym next to your house.'
• Jenny told me that she goes to the gym next to my house. I'm thinking about going
with her.
• 'I'm working in Italy for the next six months.'
• He told me he's working in Italy for the next six months. Maybe I should visit him!
• 'I've broken my arm!'
• She said she's broken her arm, so she won't be at work this week.

6. • Pronouns, demonstratives and adverbs of time and place
• Pronouns also usually change in indirect speech.
• 'I enjoy working in my garden,' said Bob.
• Bob said that he enjoyed working in his garden.
• 'We played tennis for our school,' said Alina.
• Alina told me they'd played tennis for their school.
• However, if you are the person or one of the people who spoke, then the pronouns don't
change.
• 'I'm working on my thesis,' I said.
• I told her that I was working on my thesis.
• 'We want our jobs back!' we said.
• We said that we wanted our jobs back.

7. • We also change demonstratives and adverbs of time and place if they are
no longer accurate.
• 'This is my house.'
• He said this was his house. [You are currently in front of the house.]
• He said that was his house. [You are not currently in front of the house.]
• 'We like it here.'
• She told me they like it here. [You are currently in the place they like.]
• She told me they like it there. [You are not in the place they like.]

8. • THESE → THOSE
• NOW → THEN
• YESTERDAY → THE DAY BEFORE
• TOMORROW → NEXT / FOLLOWING DAY
• AGO → BEFORE

9. • Reporting verbs
• When we want to report what people say, we use reporting verbs. Different reporting verbs have different patterns, for example:
• Mary complained (that) she was tired.
• (verb + that clause)
• She asked if they could stop for a rest.
• (verb + if clause)
• Peter told her not to worry.
• (verb + to-infinitive)
• He suggested stopping and having a picnic.
• (verb + -ing form)

10. Reporting verbs with that clauses
►When we want to report what people say or think, we can
use a reporting verb and a clause with that:
He said that I had to see a doctor.
I thought that he was being silly.
We can leave out the word that:
He said I had to see a doctor.
I thought he was being silly.